Notebook

By: Elsie Sy-Niebar

 

*Gung Hei Fat Choy! Happy Lunar New Year of the Horse! What ‘Fortune tellers’ say? *What happened to the PIWC 2010 $6000 FUND supposedly ‘kept’ by Joy Manuel?” *Feedbacks from President Obama’s ‘State of the Union Address’ *I say it again: As a columnist, I do not cover dinner balls without a Press/Comp dinner ticket *Hats off to Lourdes Livas, PIWC Queen Committee Chairperson! * Immigration reform, no help to an undocumented- immigrant father of a US-born baby **Call 1-888-382-1222 the National DO NOT CALL Number to protect your cellphone from telemarketers!

GONG HAY FAT CHOY! 馬上發財！如意吉祥！身體健康 Happy Chinese Lunar New Year celebrated in February! This is the Year of the Horse, the seventh sign of the Chinese Zodiac consisting of 12 Animal Signs. According to the Chinese belief, “the Horse is a symbol of nobility, class, speed and perseverance. People born in the Year of the Horse are smart, fabulous speakers who have a gift for getting through to other people. They believe that their aim in life is to ask for individual liberty and happiness.” According to Fortune tellers, this year is a good year to get married, because the Romantic Star dominates the center of the universe during this time. However, they also warn that getting hitched in the Year of the Horse is only good for couples who have been dating for a long time. For 2014 Romances, this is not a good year to tie the knots; such marriages might end up in divorce “due to the influence of the Star of External Romance.” Maritess Allen, a Filipina, and president and CEO of the World Of Feng Shu, said, “ the Year of the Horse is represented by an aggressive Horse. People should be more low key and protect themselves by reducing unnecessary risks; it is best to display the image of Lord Kubera (who’s this?) to control the Wild Horse. People must be vigilant in recognizing and taking advantage of wealth-making opportunities and to safeguard against thieves and robbers.” Sounds like Madam Allen is targeting the THIEVES among Philippine politicians and Influene Peddlers in the PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT! One more Thing: For good luck, fortune tellers advise believers to wear the “lucky colors of blue and yellow”. Folks, the above superstitious beliefs related to the Lunar New Year are just for fun on a rainy night. Only God and our Faith in Him will carry us through.

PRES. BARACK OBAMA’S “STATE OF THE UNION”

address delivered last January 28, 2014. Did you listen to our El Presidente proudly enumerating his accomplishments during the past six years as President of the United States of America? Frankly, I found his speech full of rhetorics. In the interest of space, here are a few shortened quotes from the Wisdom of the distinguished officers at the HEARTLAND INSTITUTE, a 30-year-old free-market think-thank, national non-profit organization headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems: “The President displayed a remarkable lack of gravitas in his State of the Union address. For a while, he was crouched over the lectern leaning on his elbows, like a college professor leading a discussion rather than the Leader of the Free World addressing the nation. Taking credit for things he’s done so much to prevent the repetitive callouts to sad sacks in the gallery …the incredibly insulting and condescending notion that Congress should ‘give America a raise’ by raising the minimum wage. Do we all work for the government? That line – ‘give America a raise’ – should appear in dictionaries as part of the definition of ‘pandering.’ He mocked his critics when he should have been apologizing for telling lies to the American people in order to get that legislation passed.’” Joseph Bast, President, The Heartland Institute. “On the individual freedom with government control and direction, the president’s policies have produced the weakest recovery in over a century.” Robert Genetski, Policy Advisor, Budget and Tax “President Obama managed to completely gloss over the relevant facts regarding the failures of his signature health care law. Rather than admit the problems and apologize for them, the president chose to ignore the millions of Americans who’ve learned that even if they like their plan they can’t keep it, or even if they like their doctor they can’t keep him. “President Obama has made health care unaffordable for millions of citizens while needlessly disrupting our economy.” Benjamin Domenech Senior Fellow, Health Care Policy

WHAT HAPPENED to the PIWC 2010 $6000 FUND SUPPOSEDLY BEING “KEPT BY JOY MANUEL?”

This is the $6000-Question I asked Ben Tibayan, Immediate Past President of the PIWC Board of Trustees or BOT. I told Ben “this is the question being asked – for the past three years now — by several PIWC hardworking members who requested not to be identified, in spite of my prodding to allow me to use their names.” THEY WORKED HARD TO RAISE THAT MONEY! They are entitled to know it was used for??? No less than Joy Manuel once told me that, the $6000 was to be donated to a certain school in her hometown, her choice — as PIWC 2010 executive chair. And as all PIWC officers and members and leaders of the Fil-Am Community know, the PIWC 2010 check for $6000 was, recalled by Joy Manuel, herself, from the “Beneficiary” for some reason. This is now 2014. Today, February 1, 2014, I finally got a return call from Ben Tibayan, (took me weeks to find his phone number). Point-blank, I asked Ben: This is now 2014. WHERE IS THE PIWC 2010 $6000 FUND now — supposedly being kept by Joy Manuel?” Ben’s quick reply: “It is with Joy Manuel.” My response to Ben: As then, president of the BOT, you should have demanded Ms. Manuel, who was your secretary — to deposit the 6000 PIWC fund in the BOT account for SAFEKEEPING so it will earn interest. Joy Manuel, even as past PIWC Chair, has no right to keep that money which rightfully belongs to the Community. I really could not understand how PIWC governance works. When it comes to the election, you get divided. When it comes to making important DECISION, it goes no-where. Guess what? Community leaders are wondering how you guys allow Joy Manuel to get away with the $6000 PIWC FUND. One funny scenario was when she waved an envelope before your eyes telling you, “the $6000 is inside this envelope.” You believed her. Another eyebrow-raising at the BOT: in spite of Joy Manuel’s refusal to give back the $6000 to PIWC, which is, of course, an incorrect move by an officer – BOT “promoted” her as your Secretary???. And now, the PIWC 2014 appointed her as “Budget Director.” In fact, she was one of the AWARDEES that evening, except that she was not present at the 2014 Kick-off Party. One of the Fil-Am community leaders who was present at the kick-off held my shoulder firmly, showed me the brochure, and sarcastically quipped: “Joy Manuel must be so good in keeping the PIWC 2010 $6000 FUND, she’s getting another promotion and AWARD from the PIWC .” Back to Ben Tibayan, he said: “I thank you for your concern, Elsie. You know, many of our past PIWC chairpersons did not submit a ‘transparency’ report of their chairmanship. I asked them about this but it was never done. I promise you, I will make a motion to this effect in our next meeting. I will make a motion for Joy Manuel to deposit the $6000 PIWC 2010 FUND in the BOT fund and for all past chairs to make a clean-slate report of their chairmanship.” Good luck, Ben. You should have done this while you were a BOT President! The Truth must be told to set any Suspects free. So nobody will bother me with this $6000 PIWC question!

HATS OFF TO LOURDES LIVAS, for accepting — the second-time around — the chairmanship of the PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE WEEK COMMITTEE (PIWC) 2014 “Beauty Queen Committee,” the committee which brings in the revenue to the celebration. The “10 tables of guests” and “10 pages of advertisements” requirements from each queen, “mandated by the PIWC chairperson” a PIWC member told me, made Lourdes’ job more difficult. She took the stand and “reduce those requirements. A blessing to Lourdes is her best friend Leticia Freihaut, her co-chair. Both ladies are former Beauty Queens, too. IGNORANCE OF PROTOCOL: Respecting protocol is usually relegated to the backburner particulary in community events where “protocol” like who get the “best seats” in the ballroom, is usually – dictated by personal choices of the organizers – who oftentimes – favor her friends or what we call “palakasan” or favoritism. At the recent PIWC kickoff, I was seated at the “kitchen area” of the hotel. It really didn’t matter to me. I have eyes and ears to see and listen to what’s going around. I do not dance so I go around to meet people. At the PIWC kick-off, I was surprised to see DRs. MANNY and REMY ESCALONA seated, literally by the door leading to the kitchen of Chateau Ritz. DR. ESCALONA is the OUTGOING EXECUTIVE CHAIR OF PIWC 2013! He deserves to be seated among the OFFICERS ROW! How could they banish the Escalona couple to the kitchen? At least they were seated with Dr. Alfredo and Hilda Sy, another prominent couple. Since there were empty chairs at their table, Remy and Fred invited me to sit with them. (Fred always considers me a “cousin” — an endearing trait among the Chinese. Thanks, Fred and Hilda. My honor.) NO PRESS COMP TICKET, NO COVERAGE! I’ve been saying this and I will say it again: “I will NOT COVER any event if the CHAIRPERSON will not give me a PROFESSIONAL COURTESY of sending a PRESS COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TICKET! I am not Cheap or a Freeloader!. But this is my PRESS PROTOCOL.

HATS OFF TO LOURDES LIVAS, for accepting — the second-time around — the chairmanship of the PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE WEEK COMMITTEE (PIWC) 2014 “Beauty Queen Committee,” the committee which brings in the revenue to the celebration. The “10 tables of guests” and “10 pages of advertisements” requirements from each queen, “mandated by the PIWC chairperson” a PIWC member told me, made Lourdes’ job more difficult. She took the stand and “reduce those requirements. A blessing to Lourdes is her best friend Leticia Freihaut, her co-chair. Both ladies are former Beauty Queens, too.

IGNORANCE OF PROTOCOL: Respecting protocol is usually relegated to the backburner particulary in community events where “protocol” like who get the “best seats” in the ballroom, is usually – dictated by personal choices of the organizers – who oftentimes – favor her friends or what we call “palakasan” or favoritism. At the recent PIWC kickoff, I was seated at the “kitchen area” of the hotel. It really didn’t matter to me. I have eyes and ears to see and listen to what’s going around. I do not dance so I go around to meet people. At the PIWC kick-off, I was surprised to see DRs. MANNY and REMY ESCALONA seated, literally by the door leading to the kitchen of Chateau Ritz. DR. ESCALONA is the OUTGOING EXECUTIVE CHAIR OF PIWC 2013! He deserves to be seated among the OFFICERS ROW! How could they banish the Escalona couple to the kitchen? At least they were seated with Dr. Alfredo and Hilda Sy, another prominent couple. Since there were empty chairs at their table, Remy and Fred invited me to sit with them. (Fred always considers me a “cousin” — an endearing trait among the Chinese. Thanks, Fred and Hilda. My honor.) NO PRESS COMP TICKET, NO COVERAGE! I’ve been saying this and I will say it again: “I will NOT COVER any event if the CHAIRPERSON will not give me a PROFESSIONAL COURTESY of sending a PRESS COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TICKET! I am not Cheap or a Freeloader!. But this is my PRESS PROTOCOL.

IMMIGRATION REFORM DID NOT SUPPORT AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT’S APPEAL TO STOP HIS DEPORTATION: Last Thursday, January 30, a press conference at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington Street in downtown Chicago, was held to appeal to the INS (Immigration/Naturalization Services) to stop the deportation of an undocumented Guatemalan, Anibal Fuentes Aguilar; father of a six-month-old baby born in Chicago. Fuentes has lived in Chicago for more than 10 years. The house he lives in on Albany Park was raided by the INS police several times, the press release stated. On the day he was arrested, Fuentes, believing the agents were Chicago Police officers because of their “Police” insignia, Anibal, according to the press release, greeted them, only to be handcuffed and detained. ICE is now seeking to deport him, based solely on a time he was apprehended by Border Patrol after he returned to Guatemala to attend his mother’s funeral in 2009. Fuentes was ordered to present his ticket out of the country by January 31. After submitting his prosecutorial discretion request, ICE has told him he can stay in the USA pending their decision. Fuentes remains in limbo whether he will be deported to Guatemala or stay in America to raise his son. Groups supporting the deportation appeal of Anibal Fuentes Aguilar and his family, are — Rev. Jorge Morales, Conference Minister of the United Church of Christ IL Conference; Rev. Larry Greenfield, Executive Minister of American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan Chicago; Sister Benita Coffey, Benedictine Sisters of Chicago; Rev. Dan Dale, Senior Pastor at Wellington UCC; Jose Luis Gallardo, Latino Union of Chicago; Sara Macareg, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum; Tania Unzueta, National Day Laborer Organizing Network; Fred Tsao, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Salvador Cicero, appealant]s attorney; and Marcos Yax, President of the Guatemalan Association of the Exterior Last, Jan 29, Fuentes was told by ICE that he can remain in the US for one to two more weeks, pending upon their decision on his application to stop his deportation. Jasmin Martínez of Organized Communities Against Deportations, said said: “ICE has given Anibal Aguilar Fuentes a temporary extension. He could still be deported and be separated from his son at anytime. It is more important now, than ever, that we remain united as a community in support of Anibal.” ###

President Barack Hussein Obama enjoying the applause of vice president Biden and the rest during his State of the Union Address.

The outgoing Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC) Beauty Queens who were presented at the PIWC kick-off event last January 10, at the Chateau Ritz, in Niles, IL. From left to right are: LOURDES LIVAS, Committee chair; Kinjal Mahant, Miss PIWC 2013; Iris Buendia, Mrs. Illinois 2013; Meriza Pineda, Mrs. PIWC 2013; Marianne Bennett, “Mrs. Philippines PIWC 2013; Yoly Zoleta, “Mrs. Philippines PIWC 2014; Tina Pumarada, Mrs. Illinois 2014; Gaudi Hope C. Lopez, Mrs. Chicago 2014; Myrna Cordero, Mrs. PIWC 2014; Elianor Gonzales, Miss Philippines PIWC 2014. Not in photo is Leticia Freihaut, co-chair. Photo courtesy of Dr. Manny Escalona, Jr.

SILLIMAN ALUMNI INT’L-Chicago Chapter, held its induction of officers 2014-2015 last December, during their Christmas Party. In photo is new president Conrad Villanueva; Darlene Guatelara, secretary; Elen Sienes Garbrecht, director.

Photo showing Atty. Alfonso Bascos, inducting officer of Silliman Alumni International-Chicago Chapter, congratulating Conrad Villanueva and his VP Jemmuel Plaza. Immediate past president is Ma. Antonia Guatelara Geary. (ESN photos)

CONGRATULATIONS to Lindy Tan as the new president of the LAGUNA ASSOCIATION OF THE MIDWEST on his induction last January 18, held at the Chateau Ritz, in Niles, Illinois. In photo above from left to right are the newly-inducted officers: Ellen Tan, Myrna Cordero, Meg Advento (immediate past president), Loy Gonzales, Myrna Gonzales, Sonia Jones, Lindy Tan (president), Virgie Cagandahan, Vilma Briones, Girley Si Espino, Linda Cailles and Lorna Rodriguez. Seated from left are: Delfin Redor, Remo Cordero, Andy Castro, Tarco Cagandahan, Mer Tan, Rey Elazegui (charter president), Chris Briones and Pepito Advento. This Dinner and Dance Ball/induction also marked the 15th anniversary of the LAM.

Photo shows US Sen. Dick Durbin greeting the Chinese community “Gong Ha Fat Choy” (Happy New Year) at the celebration hosted by the Chicago Chinese Mutual Aid Association, last Feb. 1, at the Truman College.

Dr. Manny Escalona, Jr., past PIWC 2013 chair, with better-half Dr. Remy, with friends Gilda Sy, truly yours Elsie Sy-Niebar, Gilda’s better- half, Dr. Fred Sy.

 

Awardee: Maria Wodyla, owner of Lone Tree Manor in Niles, IL, Filipinos’ favorite banquet hall, was presented an “Award of Appreciation” by the Divine Mercy Community Parishioners Asso., last Dec. 14. In photo are Leo Jaboni, chairman; Edna Jaboni, president; the Honoree; and Jenny Toque, vice president.